New Zealand Law: Ngāti Whare Claims Settlement Act 2012

Summary

Ngāti Whare are a central North Island iwi whose rohe (territory) is based around Te Whaiti, Minginui and the Whirinaki Conservation Park. The area in which Ngāti Whare claim interests for Treaty settlement purposes covers approximately 192,000 hectares. Te Whāiti-Nui-a-Toi Canyon and Tūwatawata are specially protected areas recognized in the settlement Act.

Similar to most other settlements, the Ngäti Whare Settlement is the final settlement of all Ngāti Whare’s historical claims resulting from acts or omissions by the Crown prior to September 21, 1992, and includes: an agreed historical account and Crown acknowledgements which form the basis for a Crown Apology to Ngäti Whare; cultural redress; and financial and commercial redress are already provided through the Central North Island Forests Land Collective Settlement 2008.

Of particular note, is the Crown’s acknowledgment that Ngāti Whare are the Kaitiaki (guardians) of Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne Conservation Park. The Settlement Act signed a co-governance agreement between the New Zealand government and Ngati Whare for the Conservation Park, and the government apologized for past injustices and acknowledged the forest was integral to Ngati Whare’s cultural identity and wellbeing. The settlement provided for a joint Ngati Whare and Crown ecological regeneration project

Under s108 of the Act, a statutory body called the Rangitaiki River Forum is also established. The purpose of the Forum is the protection and enhancement of the environmental, cultural, and spiritual health and wellbeing of the Rangitaiki River and its resources for the benefit of present and future generations.